While we are still in the dog days of summer (at least here in the northern hemisphere), it’s already time for many of us to start thinking about Back to School!

Whether it’s for yourself, your spouse/partner or kids, you may be thinking about incorporating healthy bento lunches into your everyday routine in the fall/autumn. What’s your plan? What about bentos appeal to you (I’m guessing they must, since you’re here!)? Share your tips, ideas, strategies for great bento-ing, right here in the comments. And, there’s a prize! continue reading...

The results and comments so far for the most recent poll question: Do bentos help you save money? are very interesting. (The poll will be open for another week or so, so if you haven’t already cast your vote and tell us what you think!) While the majority of you say you either save a lot (39%) or a little (31%) by making bentos, the rest of you are not sure, or think you might be spending more money.

When it comes to bentos, it’s not the food that racks up the expenses usually - it’s the boxes and accessories. continue reading...

I’ve been working on a some recipes which work when I just throw them together, but aren’t quite ready for prime time publishing here. So the meantime here are a couple of bentos that are too similar to other bentos already shown here, but may be of interest to look at anyway. Both feature chicken recipes from the recent chicken mini-marathon. continue reading...

Whenever I use the little apple shaped mayonnaise container in my bentos (as I did in the most recent bento no. 48) I always get comments or emails asking where they came from. It’s designed by Shinzi Katoh, a very popular graphic designer and ilustrator in Japan. Of interest to bento fans is the fact that he has designed several bento boxes and accessories. continue reading...

This is mainly of interest only to readers in Switzerland or in regions of France and Germany close enough to Switzerland to go shopping here. I couldn’t pass it up because it finally gives me a chance to talk about one of the most practical lines of bento-appropriate containers available, Lock & Lock. continue reading...